154 THE PASSENGER PIGEON IN PENNSYLVANIA 



of the world and preserve the priceless gleam of 

 Liberty, for humanity and truth. The hemlock in- 

 dustry furnished materials for producing leather and 

 for constructing comfortable homes, throughout the 

 central and eastern states, at less cost than any other. 

 It made a rich empire of a trackless forest, and sup- 

 plied the necessary funds to improve the counties Ihat 

 have been created, to erect substantial public buildings, 

 safe bridges and good roads; and it fostered a profit- 

 able and convenient home market for the products of 

 agriculture. The industry provided inducements for 

 constructing permanent and valuable railroads that will 

 continue to benefit the entire Commonwealth in all fu- 

 ture time. 



Unreasoning sentimental ism prompts us to blame 

 only the lumbermen and the tanners for the destruction 

 of our beautiful forests, during the last forty years, 

 while others are equally responsible for their sins of 

 omission, in past decades, and which continue to blind 

 many people. Preserving a forest should be a mat- 

 ter for a nation, state, county, city or a township, to 

 administer for the public and with public funds ; be- 

 cause the benefit cannot be reduced to a per cent, incre- 

 ment. There is beauty, health, climate, recreation 

 and many other benefits, in which all should share to 

 the fullest extent. Private enterprise cannot compete, 

 over so long a period and broad a space. We should 

 cultivate ten million acres of forest in the Keystone 

 state — and do it now. 



Forty-four years ago, the voice that was crying for 



